» Financial Insecurity

Feb 6th 2013 08:20 am Financial Insecurity

It looks as if they’re finally going to do it. The U.S. Postal Service has announced that it will stop delivering mail on Saturday. If I understand it, the USPS still will deliver packages six days a week, and mail will continue to drop in PO boxes on Saturday morning. I guess that’s OK with me, but then I have a PO box. I like the USPS. I think it does a fine job and does not receive enough respect. Maybe my feelings go all the way back to when I was a little boy, and our mailman would walk his route, climbing the many steps to our front-door mail box with a huge leather pouch over his shoulder. I’ll have to admit, you can’t expect that kind of serice anymore.

Posted by jimmyjohnson / Vintage A&J

300 Responses to “Financial Insecurity”

Mindy on 06 Feb 2013 at 8:42 am #

Perhaps the USPS wouldn’t have such great financial problems if they stopped advertising on the Tour de France or NASCAR, etc. It’s not like people don’t know where the post office is near them or what services there are. I don’t mind the stop-delivery on Saturdays to external mail boxes [such as we have] but I can see where it will cause problems for people receiving medications through the mail. Legal medications, not the pounds of pot from Black River to Narragansett Bay and the like. I agree, Jimmy, mail carriers are a breed apart. We’re lucky to have one who is a real jewel. The people who actually work in the post office, though, seem to be rather snarly and mean-spirited, at least here.

Whatever happened to all the disgruntled postal employees who made the news by going psychotic a decade or so back? John actually has a video game called “Postal.”

But, and here is the family argument, if they’re going to delete Saturday mail delivery, the increase in postage prices becomes a bit of an imposition. Yes? No? Am I going to be pilloried? Ghost made me say it!
Sam in Alabam(a) on 06 Feb 2013 at 8:57 am #

I doubt whether this is the final word. As with the proposed closing of small, local post offices, Congress may well get involved. No gridlock there.
sandcastler on 06 Feb 2013 at 8:59 am #

^°^°^°^°^ wonders how Mindy knows from were pot is shipped?

Our letter carriers over the years have had varied personalities, ranging from outgoing and caring to a by-the-God rule book follower. My one grandfather, Spanish War vet, began as a horseback riding rural letter carrier and retired as a Post Master. He knew everyone in the community and helped direct arriving immigrants to their relatives farms. I believe the USPS plays a very under appreciated role in our society, even if today it is mainly to deliver junk mail.
Laura in Upstate NY on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:08 am #

A great example of why the post office is going under. I have a book I ordered and it is being shipped via USPS. It arrived at the local post office yesterday but since it doesn’t have to be at my house until tomorrow it is still sitting there. I didn’t realise that the mail volume had slowed so much that they could just sit on packages until the last day of possible delivery. This is not the first time it has happened to me and I have finally decided to pay the extra and have it delivered by one of the others instead of letting it take up space at the local post office. A friend of mine watched her package sit in the local post office for four days since the delivery date had not yet arrived. I could go to the post office and ask for my package if I can manage to leave my job and get there during the four hours that they are now open. Besides what is the point of ordering something and having it delivered if I have to go to the place that is supposed to be doing the delivering to get my package?
Whistling Rufus on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:15 am #

I think the service is outstanding. I recently had an 8×10 envelope mailed to me (in Va.) from Hawaii. It only took 3 days and only cost $1.10. That’s halfway around the world. Some time ago I read an interview w/ Postmaster General about how many gazillion pieces of mail they handle in a day. For what it costs, it’s a great service. I agree w/ Sam, I’ll be surprised if they actually cut Sat. delivery, but we’ll see.
Hurd in Bay Minette on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:22 am #

I would happily support an increase in the postage rate if we could stop junk mail. It clogs our landfills and is just a complete nuisance. It disturbs my inner peace more than my teenage son.
NDK on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:24 am #

3 days from Hawaii to VA, and 3 days to get across the state of Michigan. It seems the longer distance routes are better organized. Our mail takes the scenic route before reaching its destination within the state now since they reorganized the sorting centers.

Many years ago, I seem to recall that mail was delivered twice a day just before Christmas, as the volume of cards and such was so heavy. Mr. Chester was our wonderful carrier, and he always had a smile and a kind word.
sandcastler on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:24 am #

Canada has not had Saturday delivery for something like fourth years, appears there is no adverse effects to one extra day off for the letter carriers.
sandcastler on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:25 am #

Fourth s/b forty, Sir I is a pain in the ……..
Czar Nicholas II on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:28 am #

Nyet! Nyet!
sandcastler on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:30 am #

??????? ???? ?????, ??????? ?????? ??? ???, ? ?.
Mindy on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:31 am #

Question: Why is the MAN in charge of a post office called the Post MASTER but if a WOMAN is in charge she is NOT called the Post MISTRESS? John says they should both be called the POHMFIC but he won’t explain what it means.
sandcastler on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:33 am #

Okay, Russian does not work in this room, very odd given all the tongues we converse in at times.
John in Richmond Texas on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:37 am #

I would have thought they’d split the week, so people wouldn’t have to go two days without mail. The junk is incredible, we collect and dump our paper recycle at a school near us, I get the mail and discard 98% of it daily into our paper bin. We get big thick heavy slick junk magazines that are supposedly about the community and they’re just full of plastic surgery ads ?! the retro above, that’s what’s great about online banking and being able to get cash at store check-outs.
Sam in Alabam(a) on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:40 am #

Mindy: For decades the head of the post office in the small rural area in which I grew up was Mrs. Flossie Malloy. She was known as the Postmistress.
Llee on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:46 am #

I bait the mailbox with cookies. And hand warmers in the winter. And bottles of water in the summer when the temperature is sooooo high. The carriers are a great bunch. Getting letters, or boxes, or sometimes both….. it is almost as good as Christmas!
JDS on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:48 am #

I’ll be really bummed out if they stop delivering on Saturdays. That’s the highpoint of my day.

For $0.46 it’s an amazing service. I can’t even send an e-mail for that small of an amount.
Nancy in Bucks County on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:56 am #

I have a dear friend in VA who is the postmistress. She has worked her way up from carrier with the leather bag to the top of a very busy post office near a military base.

The test she took to enter the job was very demanding and, at the time, you had to score very high to even be considered. Unless, of course, you were a Veteran. They jumped to the front of the line. Duh! Going “Postal” have anything to do with that?

I enjoy great delivery 5 days a week. Our Sat. delivery person is a temp – awful – and it will be a relief to end his attempts to deliver my mail to me. He usually gives me the neighbor’s catalogs and my neighbor gets my bank statement.

Remembering when I couldn’t wait for the mail to arrive so I could read my pen pal’s letters. Email pals just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Jerry in Fl on 06 Feb 2013 at 10:00 am #

I stopped keeping track of postage years ago. I just go to our little po in a box and ask for first class stamps.
Bob in Orland Park on 06 Feb 2013 at 10:01 am #

I’m surprised they’d consider dropping Saturday delivery since with many Monday holidays we wouldn’t get our junk mail for three days. On the other hand, that wouldn’t be so bad.
Bob in Central FL on 06 Feb 2013 at 10:05 am #

When I was a bit younger we got home delivery twice a day. I suggested to a postal worker taking a poll at a local baseball game that they deliver MWF to one half of the homes and TTS to the other half. Get rid of half the route people and cut way back on their vehicle fleet. All I got was a weak smile.
Jerry in Fl on 06 Feb 2013 at 10:06 am #

Sandcastler, come forth! Just getting in the Bill S. spirit. Whoops, just noticed the initials.
Virgin Mindy on 06 Feb 2013 at 10:10 am #

Oh, non-virgin Mindy, you are such a dweeb! Shame on you for bringing the species down so far!
Mindy on 06 Feb 2013 at 10:12 am #

I’m beginning to like Ole Victor Mike even if she is an Alpha…as for the non-virgin part, well… I think I’m spending too much time in here. Goodbye.
JDS on 06 Feb 2013 at 10:19 am #

@Sandcastler: Oh great, now we’ll be just like Canada. Next thing you know we’ll all be saying “eh” at the end of our sentences.
sandcastler on 06 Feb 2013 at 10:23 am #

Me thinkth Jerry is suggesting I exit stage left. Goodbye.
Dan on 06 Feb 2013 at 10:42 am #

They do provide a needed service, but when they have to compete even amongst themselves they shoot their customers in the foot. For years we had a no union post office and a union post office. One was profitable, gave great service, stayed open on hours when working people could get there, and would have workers who hustled to get their customers through the line quickly.
The other location the service is right at the maligned government service standard that many talk about. Whether it is a deserved reputation or not I will leave that to you.
Of course they chose to close the performing non-union post office. What a case of mismanagement and the wonders of eternal job security.
All this being said, those who deliver the mail, those who go door to door or driveway to driveway are hard working individuals. I wish the same could be said regarding those who work the office.
As for letting packages sit there is no set policy as far as I know, but some are afraid that if they deliver the package too soon, folks will be discouraged from purchasing the more expensive and faster delivery options. Forget the fact that efficiency would improve and more costs would go down and there would happier customers… Which would lead to more customers. It makes too much sense. Managing from the front door versus managing from the back door.
Ginger on 06 Feb 2013 at 10:56 am #

The USPS must be managed by the J. Fred Muggs Consulting Corporation of Gee Whiz, Minnesota.
Ruth on 06 Feb 2013 at 11:18 am #

As for letting a package sit at the post office, there are some things (new release movies and books) that can’t be delivered until the release date (it’s piracy if it’s delivered early). My guess is the post office doesn’t know if the package is a new release or not so they go by the guidance given by the shipper for the delivery date to be at or after the release date. It keeps things legal.

I’ve had premium shipping sources do the same thing. A package went from the originating company’s distribution center by the airport (SE corner of my city) to the shipping company’s facility (next town west of my city) to my home (NW corner of my city) and it took 3 days. I could have walked to the distribution center and back and gotten the package faster then the premium shipping I paid for was able to manage.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 06 Feb 2013 at 11:27 am #

Phil: One of the best things wife did, probably less than a year before she died, was hire a cleaning lady. They became fast friends, and the woman was in shock when she learned what had happened when she, her family, and her mom were on a cruise over Christmas break 2010. She is devoted to me because of wife. Every couple of months I leave my tea mug and a few other dishes near the sink, and she gets it pretty clean.

Perspective, modified from today’s The Writer’s Almanac. ‘Pitkin, Walter B. (Ypsilanti, MI, 6 Feb. 1878-25 Jan. 1953, Palo Alto), early self-help writer [The Psychology of Happiness (1929), Life Begins at Forty (1932), A Short Introduction to the History of Human Stupidity (1932), and Road to a Richer Life (1949)]. “Life begins at forty. This is the revolutionary outcome of our New Era [1932!]. Today it is half a truth. Tomorrow it will be an axiom.” WrA 130206.’

Forty! Pitkin was right; many today would think the phrase quaint. More like 60. Wm. S. Gilbert, in ‘Trial by Jury’ [first G&S opera for which we have the music, 1875], has his questionable judge describe his rise to prominence by falling in love with a rich attorney’s ‘elderly, ugly daughter’. The attorney assures him that she’d easily ‘pass for 43 in the dusk, with the light behind her!’ Today, that’s pretty young.
Ghost Rider 6 on 06 Feb 2013 at 11:33 am #

Calling someone “a dweeb” is not nice, sweetheart. But have a nice day.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 06 Feb 2013 at 11:38 am #

‘. . . happened while she, her family, and her mom were on a cruise’ would be better. emb
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 06 Feb 2013 at 7:11 pm #

It’s been hours since I’ve been able to log on here. From my post above, guess that’s been widespread, or the group has been strangely silent.
Mark in TTown on 06 Feb 2013 at 7:32 pm #

emb, I was locked out too. Maybe Jimmy’s blog has postal sympathizers who decided to cut evening deliveries.

If the Post Office wants to save money, how about these ideas? Cut out home delivery of letter mail except for the disabled/unable to drive. Return to the old system of everybody getting their mail at a central location with no charge for PO boxes in the facilities. Keep the facilities counters open till at least 9pm. Keep delivering packages to homes. This saves a lot of gas, cuts the delivery fleets, brings in the carriers to assist in serving people in the post office locations, and gives service outside banker’s hours when real people can go.
billinbossier on 06 Feb 2013 at 7:44 pm #

I’m late reading this today, but to go back to Mindy’s question at the first of the comments. USPS stopped doing sponsorships of Tour de France a few years ago. I am not sure about NASCAR, but am thinking that has stopped, too. They do have TV commercials, but then so did GM when they were broke.
I don’t know if Congress will let them go to 5 day delivery or not, but it is something that should have happened years ago. (I am a retired Postal Worker).
Ghost Rider 6 on 06 Feb 2013 at 8:01 pm #

Yes, this blog has apparently been out of commission for much longer than the lights at the Super Dome last Sunday night.

Several times lately, tracking info for items I’ve ordered (not from Black River, wherever that is) show delivery from point of origin to my local post office was via FedEx, then delivery to final destination was handled by a USPS carrier. If FedEx or UPS can do it cheaper, maybe the USPS should sub out everything but local delivery. Or maybe they already have.
Mindy from Indy on 06 Feb 2013 at 8:07 pm #

As a NASCAR fan, I have not seen a USPS sponsored car for as long as I’ve watched. UPS and FedEx, yes. My home mail dude hates me – I am terrible about getting my mail and my building’s mail boxes are tiny. My old work carrier just bought a new, longer, route and left us; he was always a delight, often stopped back in to chat, and could be “conned” into picking up personal mail as well. Our temp carrier seems to be nice enough too, but not sure if he is going to be our new guy. The town I grew up in and my current hometown are both open 24/7/365 for PO boxes and machine stamps and such, and the office itself is open most night until 7pm, I believe. It was a huge shock to find out not all places do this. I would be quite peeved to have a PO box and not have any-time access to it.
Denise in Michigan on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:14 pm #

I do hope, eMb, that someday the score of “Thespis” surfaces. I just know that in an old chest in an attic in Bath or somewhere, it exists.
Jerry in Fl on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:21 pm #

I recall a cartoon from years ago. USPS accepted an envelope for guaranteed overnight delivery and took it to FEDEX for the same service at a lower price.
Bill is wherever on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:41 pm #

I’m for it. One less day of junk mail. I can’t remember the last time I got a letter.
Mark in TTown on 06 Feb 2013 at 9:51 pm #

Here is a link where you can let the mailers know you don’t want their advertising. Or sign up for more if that’s your thing. You can also list people who have died but you are still getting their junk mail and want to stop that too.
https://www.dmachoice.org/
sideburns on 06 Feb 2013 at 10:20 pm #

I live in a condo in a retirement community. There’s a set of mailboxes out at the street for each set of condos and the letter carrier drives around in a truck filling them. Sometimes, of course, they have to bring a package up to the door, but except for that, they never leave their truck.

In fact, if somebody’s parked in front of the mailboxes when the truck comes by, it just keeps on going and nobody in those condos gets their mail. My dad tried complaining to the local post office about this and was told that this was Official USPS Policy and there wasn’t anything he, or anybody else could do about it.
TruckerRon on 06 Feb 2013 at 11:10 pm #

Here’s a thought… perhaps post offices could be built more like strip malls and lease the excess space to defray costs?
Dennis Ewing on 06 Feb 2013 at 11:29 pm #

For those who do not understand the advertising mail industry, They are the ones footing the bill for the PO. There are not enough first class mailings to come close to paying their bills. That so called junk mail is addressed to PO specifications, which if it is one bit off subjects it to a higher priced mailing bracket. It is sorted to the level of being routed directly to the carrier on your mail route. All the PO does is transport it from the drop site to your site and deliver. The labor intensive stuff is done for them. Take away advertising mail and that 46 cent stamp costs you 10 bucks. Plus it employs someone to design the piece. Often several someones. Someone to do the prep work for the press, someone to run the press, someone to fold, bind, insert if needed and do all the prep work for the PO. And a vast majority of printing today is done on post-consumer recycled paper and we have more trees today than we had in 1898. If you don’t want to look at it, toss it, but let the people keep their jobs. I was a printer for 37 years and am damn proud of it.
curmudgeonly ex-professor on 06 Feb 2013 at 11:50 pm #

I guess I am not the only one who couldn’t get in here for several hours.

If anyone cares to look, I posted a late one on the previous page around noon or so today. I would add to that longish item “Breast tops are also dark.” That, combined with the fact that I also mentioned Janis in her tub, will impel some of the readers to check it out! Said reader(s) may then also answer the question posed therein.

Postal stuff: IF – and that is a big IF – a day needs to be cut out of the delivery schedule, it’d be better if it were a Wednesday. Why? Because the politicians in charge of such have declared a goodly number of Mondays as holidays, and, on those weekends, we’d have 3 days running without a delivery. I pity the delivery personnel who must lug all the mail around following a 3-day lapse in deliveries.
I am under the impression that those unwanted catalogues get special low rates. Why not charge them first class rates? It might cause some firms to pare their mailing lists to those actively wanting their catalogues, spare the back and shoulders of delivery people, and save a small forest. You think the companies cannot afford those rates? Consider the ridiculously high handling charges the apply to even a $1 order….
If my impressions are incorrect, feel free to correct me in a courteous way.
Jerry in Fl on 07 Feb 2013 at 12:14 am #

Junk mail provides me with something to put in those pre-paid envelopes requesting a donaton. Happy to help guys.
Jerry in Fl on 07 Feb 2013 at 12:16 am #

donation, my bad.
Rick in Shermantown, Ohio on 07 Feb 2013 at 4:37 am #

Financial Insecurity:

The strip is now an interesting anachronism, in that we can check balances via Internet devices.

As someone who works for a bank, I have to wonder if the ATM will soon disappear.

I’m not taking sides on the issue; I’m only wondering.
Bonnie on 07 Feb 2013 at 6:01 am #

I’m getting in late in the conversation, but I love the post office. I couldn’t deliver a payment to the next town for the 40-some cents they charge, much less across the country. My mail carrier is wonderful, bringing packages to the door that won’t fit in the box. I can understand their decision to drop Saturday delivery; while dropping mid-week might be better in some ways, the mail carriers are like everyone else and want a 2-day weekend, so they hire a bunch of part-timers to cover Saturdays which costs a lot of money. Long live the USPS!
Ginger on 07 Feb 2013 at 6:01 am #

I know a professional farrier who can’t find work…
Mark in TTown on 07 Feb 2013 at 6:33 am #

Ginger, stop horsing around.
Virgin Mindy on 07 Feb 2013 at 6:45 am #

Well, Ginger, you troll, with PETA and the environmental and animal rights groups raising so much stink about women wearing furs I can understand why he’s unemployed. Or do you have hoof in mouth disease? That is as opposed to the proper way of saying it: Foot in Mouth Disease.
Mindy on 07 Feb 2013 at 6:51 am #

Well, there’s the alleged Virgin, stirruping things as usual. Are you related to Ms. Collins, Alleged Virgin?
mitch4 on 07 Feb 2013 at 7:03 am #

Saturday is when singles and families where all adults work “standard” workweeks get to meet and interact with their USPS carrier.

I could accept reducing home delivery by one day. But don’t make it Saturday. Skip Tuesday or Wednesday.
JDS on 07 Feb 2013 at 7:06 am #

Ghost Rider 6, Thanks for clearing that up for me about the site being down. I was afraid that Queen Liz II had had me banished.
Mindy on 07 Feb 2013 at 7:50 am #

The Virgin Mindy might have put a pox on you, JDS. Never disregard her evil influence. Problem if you cut mail delivery in the middle of a week. The carrier will have Sundays off…and, for example, Wednesday…which makes life miserable for USPS Carrier Family. Make it Monday off, then. Personally, since packages will be delivered on Saturday, that eliminates my big issue about Seniors and others receiving medicines through the mail suffering. That problem would have existed no matter which day was eliminated, but package delivery still obviates my concern.

Yes, Ghost, I did use a new word! And you thought you were too old to learn anything else! I’ve even learned how to obviate pokies.
sandcastler on 07 Feb 2013 at 7:50 am #

Rick in Shermantown,

Are you saying we will get the same rights as the government, print money on demand?
sandcastler on 07 Feb 2013 at 7:53 am #

GR6,

http://www.gocomics.com/moderately-confused/2013/02/07

Explains why you are so into the Weather Channel, it’s the plot lines.
JDS on 07 Feb 2013 at 8:07 am #

Speaking of letter carriers. Our mail lady, Evonne, from years ago would carry dog treats with her. Well it didn’t take long for our springer spaniel (Lacy) to figure that out. Upon seeing Evonne, Lacy would run to the house three doors down and sit on the step and get a treat from Evonne. Then run over to the next door step and sit and wait for her second treat. This routine continued until Evonne would reach our door. At which point I would then be able to get Lacy to come back in the house. After Lacy was put to sleep, we received a sympathy card in our mail box from Evonne.
Jean in Dahlonega Ga aka Trapper Jean on 07 Feb 2013 at 8:35 am #

We have a nice post office, and the people who work there are very friendly, but our delivery person will not drive up the mountain to deliver packages. We are not the only family up here-in fact there are quite a number of houses-but our mail is put into a cubby arrangement and we each have a key to our own box, which isn’t very big. Anything bigger than a cd mailer is taken back to the PO and we have to make a trip into town to get it. I know this is not a problem on a major scale, but some days it is an irritation, especially if the package is important.

As to yesterday’s discussion on cleaning coffee and tea pots, a mixture of white vinegar and hot water will do a good job of dissolving any stains or scale.
John in Richmond Texas on 07 Feb 2013 at 8:37 am #

having a day off midweek is great. I was once able to take a lot of weekdays off in one job, where I had plenty of vacation and personal days and it’s great to use a weekday to go to the mall, grocery store of see a movie. . Once we had neighbors “we were not friendly with” and they got misdelivered a junk pornographic underwear catalog for me, the neighbor lady made a point of handing to me instead of just sticking it on my porch, I can only figure I got such a thing because I subscribed to the National Lampoon. ?
Mindy on 07 Feb 2013 at 8:45 am #

sandcastler, no, it’s the panty lines.
Ghost Rider 6 on 07 Feb 2013 at 8:55 am #

And the ever-possible possibility of pokies.

And why would one want to obviate innocent pokies?
sandcastler on 07 Feb 2013 at 8:57 am #

^°^°^°^°^ may have to find the Weather Channel, I only use their app, sounds like the live programming has more visual appeal.
Ghost Rider 6 on 07 Feb 2013 at 9:05 am #

It’s not nice to call someone “a troll”, sweetheart. Also, it’s not nice to be illogical, if you are supporting the PETA worldview. After all, Ginger wasn’t promoting the wearing of horse fur coats, was (gspd)? Also, it’s not nice to be inconsistent. Didn’t you invite me on a fox hunt recently?

But have a wonderful day.
Ghost Rider 6 on 07 Feb 2013 at 9:17 am #

Dear “Ask Amy “:

Ms. Curtis, last night I had to fill out one of those silly “challenge question” things in order to gain on-line access to my bank’s ATM/debit card account. One of the questions was “What is your favorite thing in the world?” Perhaps unwisely, I answered that question accurately. My question is “Can I get into trouble with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for using seven-letter words like that on a banking Web site?” Thanking you in advance for your advice, I am

Your devoted reader,

Ghost Rider 6
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 07 Feb 2013 at 9:21 am #

Denise: I don’t recall your posting before. Good to have another Savoyard on board. Seems to me I’ve heard that someone in recent years composed music for Thespis and it was performed. Cannot remember the details.
Do you have a performing group within reasonable driving distance? The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Co. [GSVLOC] does one opera each spring at the Conn Auditorium in Mpls, usually very well, and also does a free concert version of another with a summer orchestra at the Lake Harriet Bandshell. Up in Park Rapids, there is a Northern Light Opera Co. that has done a few G&S operas, but seems now more oriented toward musicals: Oliver and such, one per summer, with lots of “summer people” in the cast. I cannot remember any while we were in Ann Arbor ['53-'58].
In NYC, I got hooked on WQXR’s Sat. morning 78 rpm G&S programs during WWII, and saw maybe three live when D’Oyly Carte visited after the war, while I was at Stuyvesant HS, ’44-’47. Nobody has surpassed Martyn Green in the Lord Chancellor/Koko rolls. Some group did HMS Pinafore while I was at Cornell, ’47-’51. I’ve seen various productions here and there state side, and three D’Oyly Carte [RIP] productions while I was stationed in England, ’52-’53. Good stuff.
Dave in MA on 07 Feb 2013 at 9:37 am #

My understanding on the USPS is that at this time the ONLY thing they are stopping is first class mail delivery. Packages will still go through on Saturdays, so no medication deliveries would be impacted.

As for 78s on the radio, I’ve been the DJ behind the glass spinning 78s.
Country Boy on 07 Feb 2013 at 9:59 am #

Mindy, your comment about obviating pokies may get you in Dutch with PETP (People for the Enthusiastic Treatment of Pokies).
Mindy on 07 Feb 2013 at 10:04 am #

Seven-letter words? Virgins? Maidens? Shame on you, Ghost! Poor Virgin Mindy will be so traumatized she’ll cling to you like Saran wrap begging your understanding! Or something like that. I will de-obviate pokies to make you happy. And just imagine how Ms. Curtis will react! [I'm sorry, I can't remember the wench's first name and I'm too lazy to go back looking for it.] John used to call me a wench, and that’s how we got married, at least according to him. He was helping Dad do something, said, “Hand me that wrench,” and Dad misunderstood and traded me for 400 head of cattle, 200 sheep, 4 dozen turkeys, 2 dozen chickens and a dozen ducks, plus a good Barlow knife and two acres of bottom land along the river. I do so love these agrarian economies.

Good morning, Debbe! Answer me!
Mindy on 07 Feb 2013 at 10:43 am #

Country Boy, I just saw your warning about PETP and I thank you ever so much for the warning! I hadn’t considered that aspect of obviating! Fortunately, as noted above, I have already de-obviated but, to be on the safe side, I just ran into the next room and pokied both John and Ginger, earning looks of total confusion. John, unfortunately, thinks I have lost my mind. Ginger thinks that I’ve stumbled across a new fashion statement. Should that read “pokeyed?” You are aware, of course, of the growing counter culture of the Ultra-Conservative Self-Proclaimed Guardians of Societal Virtue and their organization, DSPIPFFMAGS [Don't Show Pokies In Public Foundation For Morality And Good Stuff]. It seems that anyone in the POA, the Pokie Owners Association, is beseiged on every side. The motto of the POA has become, “To Pokie Or Not To Pokie.” Donations are accepted.
Country Boy on 07 Feb 2013 at 11:14 am #

I didn’t know that, Mindy.
Virgin Mindy on 07 Feb 2013 at 11:21 am #

The non-Virgin Mindy is so full of hot air and other gas!
Ghost Rider 6 on 07 Feb 2013 at 11:28 am #

Mindy, her name is Amy. Amy Curtis. (I never forget a woman’s…name.) Try to keep up; I just wrote her a letter a letter seeking advice, since she seems the be the village’s self-appointed Authority on Good Taste and Other Important Stuff.

But when I mention “Maidens”? I do, however, think you have come up with a great new fashion statement, and that you should do everything possible to promote it.
Ghost Rider 6 on 07 Feb 2013 at 11:30 am #

Sweetheart, it’s not nice to say someone is “full of hot air and other gas.”

As you may have noticed, when I extend the Loving Hand of Avuncular Friendship, the Stern But Loving Hand of Avuncular Correction comes along with it. In fact, my last “niece” required frequent “correction”, but I really didn’t mind.

Have a brilliant day, hon.
Mindy on 07 Feb 2013 at 1:00 pm #

Try to keep up? Oh, how brash, Ghost! Then you add “avuncular,” which just makes me all steamy. Actually, I’m in deep kimshee. John and I have two antique desks we use, not overly large but sturdy and efficient. So, I was on the telephone with someone who is a major pain and I decided to go ahead with my plans to scrape the paint off my desk [I could kill whomever it was, now deceased, that decided to PAINT an old oak desk like that!] so while I’m talking I’m a-scraping and a-scraping and just going along like a hungry beaver in a grove of balsa…and I realized that I was scraping…keep up, now, Ghost…John’s desk. Which he didn’t want scraped and refinished. I really hope he’s changed his mind…If not I may have to move in with Virgin Mindy and Amy Collins…or Curtis…or Custard…whatever…
Dan in SWMo on 07 Feb 2013 at 1:04 pm #

I think a big mistake was made clear back when the USPS was created as a SEMI-independent replacement for the Postal Department. They either should have privatised mail delivery entirely and allowed full competition at all levels (first class mail as well as parcels, etc.) or they should have kept the monopolized mail delivery directly under the government. Half-way measures seldom work well in my experience. Which has also been my complaint against Obama Care, if I may open that can of worms. It mandates the worst problems of both the private sector and the government bureaucracy be combined into one unmangeable mishmash.
Country Boy on 07 Feb 2013 at 1:19 pm #

I fully agree, Dan.

In fact, you can probably expect someone at the federal government level to propose a ban on semi-independent replacements any day now. They sound much too dangerous to be allowed in civilian hands.
sandcastler on 07 Feb 2013 at 1:25 pm #

Does Obama care?
Ghost Rider 6 on 07 Feb 2013 at 1:42 pm #

Avuncular. Avuncular. Avuncular. Steamy enough now, Mindy?

I did keep up, and I sympathize with you about the SNAFU regarding John’s desk. However, I feel fairly certain you’ll think of a way to make him forget it. Or, at least, to make him forgive you for it.

And you do realize you used at least one word in that post that would make Ms. Curtis go ballistic, don’t you? Of course, there are probably words in many posts here that would have that same result.
Dave in MA on 07 Feb 2013 at 2:18 pm #

sandcastler, in a word, “no”.

Wow, this place is getting heated up. Considering we’re looking at 20″ of snow tomorrow, maybe this heat will help melt some of that…..
Dave in MA on 07 Feb 2013 at 2:21 pm #

Careful now, someone will propose a ban on pokies as they are “too dangerous”.

Anyone else here remember the J. Geils Band album “You’re getting even while I’m getting odd” ?? It’s main claim to fame was the song “Concealed Weapons”, which was about, um, well, you get the idea…..
sandcastler on 07 Feb 2013 at 2:22 pm #

Dave in MA, appreciate that concise reply. As to the snow, enjoy it. Our weekend is forecast to be rainy with temps near 70°, so much for the wife’s garden project.
Country Boy on 07 Feb 2013 at 3:03 pm #

Pokies ban? Why? Does someone think they’re like Daisy Red Ryder BB guns? “You’ll put out your eye!”
Mindy on 07 Feb 2013 at 3:07 pm #

What word? And pokies can be dangerous, a hazard to health, and should not be attempted by amateurs.
Dave, try the link —–> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=289lzL6Eit8 and see if that helps. Aren’t I just as nice as a pink nosed fuzzy puppy?

What word?
Mary in Ohio on 07 Feb 2013 at 3:33 pm #

Sorry – I just got here because YOU ALL WEREN’T HERE yesterday.I couldn’t even get the “Internet Explorer cannot display this page” message.* But now it’s today that started yesterday. Did this happen to anyone else?

*Yes, yes, my bad for still using Internet Explorer. But this has never happened before.
Mark in TTown on 07 Feb 2013 at 3:42 pm #

Mary in Ohio, it didn’t work for me in either IE or Google Chrome. So it was not your browser. Maybe the Outer Limits took over! Remember the introduction to the old show? “We now control your set…”.

Would you want healthcare service at the standard of the Postal counter employees? Not the doctors, but everybody else in the system? If you think that sounds unlikely, read what is going in Britain’s National Health Service lately. Disabled patients have been left to starve because they couldn’t feed themselves and no one would take the time to feed them, just left the trays and went on their way. Others have died of bedsores due to not having their clothes and bedding changed. The hospitals there are starting to sound like the worst nursing homes here before they came under tougher regulations.
Ghost Rider 6 on 07 Feb 2013 at 3:56 pm #

http://www.wildlifehotline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/bvr7.jpg
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 07 Feb 2013 at 3:58 pm #

c x-p: Does the name ‘slate-colored junco’ ring a bell? That’s the common name of the subspecies [ssp.] that occupies most of the eastern USA. ‘Dark-eyed junco’ as a species name is contrived; it contrasts our juncos with a closely related but distinct sp., the ‘yellow-eyed junco’, a Mexican sp. that gets into s. AZ. At one time, several species [pl., spp.] of junco were recognized: ‘Oregon’ out west, ‘pink-sided’ and ‘gray-headed in the Rockies and Great Basin, ‘slate-colored’ +/- e. of the Mississippi, etc. In n. MN, most d-e juncos are ‘slate-colored’ but many have more brown, somewhat Oregon-like. There are lots of intergrades, and all are now treated as sspp. of the ‘dark-eyed junco’, a supposed common name for the whole bunch. The yellow-eyed is still considered a distinct sp. Dark-eyed juncos are winter residents in your area. They breed mostly across Canada and Alaska s. of tree-line, with very little overlap except in the Appalachians and western mts., a bit of ne MN, and n. WI. I see them in spring and fall, and have seen neither winter juncos nor nesting ones.

Best lay intro. to this sort of thing for mainland USA is a new ‘Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of North America’. It’s too big to be a field guide, and its N.A. does not include Mexico. Houghton Mifflin, 2008. Peterson died years ago, but his heirs have seen to its being a good book, and living artists have added equally good illustrations as needed. It’s in the rack to my left, between the UMC hymnal and the Modern Library Complete Plays of Gilbert & Sullivan.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 07 Feb 2013 at 4:09 pm #

c x-p: I neglected to comment on your perception of the beaks. I’ve never noticed much variation in junco beak shape: pretty much standard seed-eating, pointy conical beaks, but not huge seed-cracking beaks like grosbeaks and hawfinches. Much like lots of junco-related sparrows and finches.
curmudgeonly ex-professor on 07 Feb 2013 at 6:03 pm #

Thanks, eMb. It strikes me that we did own a Peterson’s at one time, but I’m not at all sure about its present location. I’ll have to give that some thought.

Other bird stuff of little interest: one of our cockatiels decided to go into the egg business last week in spite of not having any mounds of nesting material. We found one egg last Thursday, two more on Saturday, and a fourth yesterday. Interesting – a first in my life – although the eggs are bound to be infertile, barring a sudden appearance of a new star in the east!
Mindy on 07 Feb 2013 at 6:44 pm #

Your portrait, Ghost? Very well done!
Robb on 07 Feb 2013 at 7:07 pm #

You will still be able to get a letter delivered on Saturday, just put it in a big box.
Robb on 07 Feb 2013 at 7:11 pm #

Actually Country Boy, it seems to me that today I wouldn’t trust a sharp stick in the hands of most civilians.
Ghost Rider 6 on 07 Feb 2013 at 8:10 pm #

Was that from Mindy or Virgin Mindy about the portrait?

Oh, well, I don’t guess it really matters which female is abusing me.
Mark in Boston on 07 Feb 2013 at 9:01 pm #

EMB: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Thespis-reconstruction/18583896
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 07 Feb 2013 at 10:25 pm #

Denise: I cannot read music, so Mark’s find would be of no use to me. How did they go about their ‘reconstruction’? Figure what ‘he must have done’ from his other music? Beats me.

c x-p. ‘Only the beak is stumping me: some google pictures seem to show a thinner, more elongated beak (such as found on insectivores) and others show a shorter, wider beak as used by seedivores (ha! I made that one up!).’ I hadn’t paid close enough attention; your perception of the beaks was not the problem, but illustrations on the web. Answer is fairly simple, and disappointing: There are lots of poor illustrations around.

I’m afraid ‘seedivore’ is not going to catch on. For one thing, the term spermivore already exists; sperm means seed, even though other things come to mind. The name for a widespread genus of Holarctic ground squirrels [more diverse in the Nearctic than the Palearctic] is Spermophilus [= seed-lover], though they don’t all specialize in seed-eating.
A well known member is the ‘Golden Gopher’ [U. Minn. mascot], better termed 13-lined ground squirrel, Spermophilus tridecemlineatus. Mammalogists just call them tridecs for short.
Likewise, not all members of the order Carnivora are flesh-eaters [e.g., pandas].
Debbe59 on 08 Feb 2013 at 3:37 am #

Good morning Mindy….sure are using a lot of $50 words. Need to look some of those up

Just finished reading where CBS is telling the Grammy contenders to ‘cover up’….no pokies, no crackies, that’s hilarious and at the same time, it’s about time. Never liked ‘camel toe cleavage’. I remember an outfit Cher wore one time….all black and left little to one’s imagination. Then there were Madonna’s ‘cone boobs’….I’d better stop, before I get in trouble here.

Good morning GR.;)

My son is getting a few hours of work in this week, so I’m a little more upbeat. When the boss started having to do some of the grunt work (like hauling the dead hens off in his big black super cab pickup truck), I guess he started missing my big grunt son

Ya’ll have a bless day….

GO IU..
Mindy on 08 Feb 2013 at 3:45 am #

“Oh, well, I don’t guess it really matters which female is abusing me.” That says a lot, Ghost, but, yes, I do suppose it’s better than self…oh! Hi, Debbe! Welcome back! I missed you! Scroll up…Ghost was just showing us one of his baby pictures! [I can resist anything but temptation, Ghost, and you know that!]
Debbe59 on 08 Feb 2013 at 4:04 am #

Mindy..I did click on the link….pretty cute kid Reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw once….save a tree, eat a beaver….
Mindy on 08 Feb 2013 at 4:14 am #

Oh, my! Ms. Collins is going to be iridescent with disapproval! And I suspect that Ghost and sandcastler might leap upon that comment like two ravenous carnivores a week without nourishment! [Speaking in such a highbrow manner is really a pain in the oh, my, I just can't go on!] Ginger, who is being so typically slovenly and slouching around in [gender specific pronoun deleted][gender specific article deleted][and if it ain't an article that's just too darned bad] is grumbling about carpets and munchies. I am skeered you may have accidentally started something, Debbe. Have no fear! I’ll back you up! And I promise you, John will not be one to make any comments at all!
Ginger on 08 Feb 2013 at 4:17 am #

In some ways, the baby photo of Ghost Rider reminds me of Hammy in that other cartoon with the hedge. Have I been in her long enough now that I can call him just plain Ghost rather than the more formal Ghost Rider? It sounds as if I’m subordinating myself to him as it is…Let me try, let the Revolution begin! Yes, GHOST, I am Mindy’s [several adjectives and adverbs, one or more of which was gender specific, have been deleted].
Debbe59 on 08 Feb 2013 at 4:21 am #

Got my back…that’s my Mindy
John in Virginia on 08 Feb 2013 at 5:03 am #

Gee, did Mindy ever call that one wrong? Some things I just can’t pass up, Debbe…but I will in this case cause she just gave me THAT look and my (deleted) (deleted) (deleted). That just goes to prove how powerful Mindy’s THAT look really is.
Mindy on 08 Feb 2013 at 5:13 am #

He almost sneaked past me, Debbe. But he did pull back at the proper moment.
Mindy on 08 Feb 2013 at 5:18 am #

All the discussion about the Post Office and now this….

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/07/la-county-postal-worker-accused-choking-girl/?test=latestnews

Did we precipitate this?
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 8:14 am #

What baby picture? That link was what I got when I Googled “pink nosed fuzzy puppy”. sandcastler??

I have just copied, pasted and saved Debbe’s and Mindy’s posts of this morning to my word processor. If, in the future, Ms. Curtis or someone objects to my use of the word “pokies” or something else, I can quote D&M (no, Mindy, not S&M) as proof that, by comparison, whatever I said was really not all that bad.

Good morning, Debbe! Thanks for getting my day started with a…well, never mind. BTW, I once saw a movie which showed one of the characters eating beaver. The character’s name was Sam Francisco.

Ginger, you certainly know me well enough by now to call me “Ghost”. I fact, you’ll probably soon know me as well as Mindy does and therefore be able to call me other things, as she does. Mindy alluded to something I didn’t quite get…you had the munchies and your carpet needed cleaning?
JDS on 08 Feb 2013 at 8:20 am #

We had a parakeet when we lived in Honolulu. I would come home from work and say “Hello Captain”. The parakeet would reply with “Hello Captain”. I never could figure out why the bird always said hello to itself.
sandcastler on 08 Feb 2013 at 8:21 am #

I always thought beaver’s eating trees was a natural act. Now it sounds like you are saying it is wrong to be pro beaver.
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 8:50 am #

Debbe, not understanding your “camel toe” reference, I Googled it and got the following picture. I can see why they want to ban them. It’s pretty disgusting.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/ink_prod/photos/0288/6049/__20_20_20_20_20SonnyPop_3D___20x_large.jpg
Mindy on 08 Feb 2013 at 9:05 am #

It was so disgusting that Ghost downloaded seven examples and spent an hour in studious contemplation. To be honest, when I first heard the phrase, I had to Google [yes, sandcastler, it was Google's time in the barrel] a camel’s foot to see where the comparison came from. Carpets and munchies are now on the Ms. Collins List of ThingsThat Cannot Be Discussed. I decline to check out Ghost[Rider]‘s link above because I know it will lead me to places I’d rather not go this morning. And I’m amazed at just how much of an opportunity to razz me royally Ghost[Rider] missed not long ago this morning. Debbe, if you added a section to the main building where the eggs are laid, would that be the Chicken Wing?
herb in sj on 08 Feb 2013 at 9:30 am #

as for the po when you drop from 19 mil pieces a day to 11 mil pieces a day, (40% loss of product) in a lil over two years some thing has to give, while we do not like to see anyone laid off, any business not supported or gonna be saved by tax payers would have gone bankrupt two years ago or more.
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 10:09 am #

I seldom miss anything, Mindy. Sometimes I just file it away and then surprise you by pulling it out when you least expect it.

And we all really believe you didn’t check out that link…
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 10:19 am #

Dear “Ask Amy”:

Ms. Curtis, last night I dreamed you and I were “playing doctor” and you asked me to examine your uvula. I did and found it to be quite swollen. At that point I woke up, and I was wondering if you know what might have happened next. Thanking you in advance for your help, I remain

Your devoted reader,

Ghost Rider 6
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 10:37 am #

sandcastler, your post gave me an idea for a cartoon show. It would be about an attorney who was a giant rodent and did good deeds. It would be called “Pro Bono Beaver”.

Note: I am not one of those who consider the phrase “an attorney who was a giant rodent” to be a redundancy. Some of my best friends are attorneys.
Mindy on 08 Feb 2013 at 10:40 am #

Congratulations, Ghost[Rider], you made me stop and think for a moment or two, you dirty old man, you! It would have been more fun had Ms. Curtis been in the doctor role, don’t you think? I often wonder if Jimmy forces his way through the Thursday morning to Monday morning posts in here and, if he does, what he thinks about his loyal followers in The Village? One day, you know, someone like Ms. Curtis [I still have my doubts that she's a real person, at least a real person who is Ms. Ample Curtis] will lead the Politically Correct & Acceptable Thought Police in here from the Ministry of Doing Things Absolutely Right for an early morning or late night raid. Who will man or woman the bulwarks with me then?
Anonymous on 08 Feb 2013 at 10:55 am #

Woman the bulwarks?
sandcastler on 08 Feb 2013 at 11:20 am #

Mindy, thanks for using Google; only wish you would give up the other search engines.

GR6, always glad to play the role of a muse.
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 12:03 pm #

Mindy, why would I want Ms. Curtis to examine my uvula?

And what’s this “Ghost[Rider]” business?
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 12:04 pm #

For those who feel they can’t face a “camel toe” picture, try this one of a “camel tow”.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/4283718-3×2-940×627.jpg
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 12:21 pm #

The funny thing about the “camel tow” picture is that, according to CamelSale.com (no, I didn’t make that up), in the USA you could probably buy a really nice pickup truck for the price of two camels.

BTW, I loved the “wanted” listing there for an “intack male” camel.
JDS on 08 Feb 2013 at 12:37 pm #

Since we’re on the topic of camelid and transportation . . .
http://baldy.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/The-current-ADVrider-home-page/i-bRX6HfD/1/L/worldrider-home-L.jpg
Mindy on 08 Feb 2013 at 1:47 pm #

Ghost, you told Ginger that [gender specific pronoun deleted] did or didn’t know you well enough to call you Ghost, instead of Ghost Rider, and I’m too lazy to go back and refresh my memory, so if [gender specific pronoun deleted] does/doesn’t know you that well, I’m just being cautious with a compromise. Now, that was the long version. The short virgin is that I just wanted to play with your mind.
Mindy on 08 Feb 2013 at 1:47 pm #

VERSION! Short VERSION!
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 1:52 pm #

Mindy, were you referring to the fact I think VM is tall enough to play volleyball for the Wolf Pack, and you have information to the contrary? BTW, how tall are YOU?
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 1:53 pm #

Judging by the Bolivian plate on the Toyota, JDS, they must be..llamas! Say, Mindy, weren’t you inquiring about llamas recently?

Did anyone hear about the Hooters waitress who won a beer sales contest at work, but then, instead of the Toyota she expected, she was given a “toy Yoda” doll. Pissed, I bet she was. In fact, sue the franchise owner, she did. True story, not the plot for an episode of “Pro Bono Beaver.”

P.S. Maybe the fact it was April Fool’s Day should have made her a little suspicious. But the Hooters franchise owner settled with her, said settlement included picking out a new Toyota for herself. So the story had a happy ending. (I love happy endings.)
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 2:04 pm #

I’m off work today, and aside from text-flirting with a young lady friend, I don’t have enough to occupy me. Can you tell?
Mindy from Indy on 08 Feb 2013 at 2:06 pm #

Mindy, “The short virgin?” Fuel on the fire. Fuel on the fire.
sandcastler on 08 Feb 2013 at 2:07 pm #

^°^°^°^°^ has a torrid remembrance of a Hooters’ bartender, ASFAD.
Mindy from Indy on 08 Feb 2013 at 2:09 pm #

Ghost, Yes, we can tell. After my day, I need the entertainment. Although, I will say being able to pull rank has its advantages. (Being a family site, I’m leaving it at that. Trust me, you thank me for this. A lot.)
Mindy from Indy on 08 Feb 2013 at 2:12 pm #

And I do remember that Hooters story. I’d be ticked too. But if I was a Hooters girl, I’d do some creative marketing and sell that Yoda doll to a well-heeled nerd.
JDS on 08 Feb 2013 at 2:19 pm #

@Ghost Rider 6 – Yes, they are llamas. Alpacas have smaller ears. Now for the hard part, correctly identify the make of motorcycle.
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 2:44 pm #

Good plan for that Yoda doll, Lady Mindy. Now ask me if I like to have the short virgin or the long virgin of your story. Although I take it that story didn’t have a happy ending, at least for someone.
Mindy from Indy on 08 Feb 2013 at 2:54 pm #

Ghost, Knowing you, you want BOTH virgins. And no, it didn’t end well for a couple people. Trust me, you don’t want to know. Quite gross.
Mindy on 08 Feb 2013 at 2:56 pm #

You’re not going to let me live that down, are you? How tall am I? I’m short, Ghost, about six feet seven, slender, 384 pounds, short hair to the middle of my back and no facial hair except for a moustache and full beard. Mindy, tell him not to pick on me!
sandcastler on 08 Feb 2013 at 2:57 pm #

Can tell you the motorcycle rider is far from home, bike appears to have Colorado plates.
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 3:00 pm #

Let’s see, Lady Mindy, I’ll have one from Column A and one from Column B.

I know you work in retail. Does your story have anything to do with a restroom?
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 3:07 pm #

Or, maybe the llama hauler took a wrong turn at La Plaz, and HE’S a long way from home.

Tough one, JDS; I’m still cogitating on it.
JDS on 08 Feb 2013 at 3:15 pm #

@Ghost Rider 6 – I’ll give you a hint – it’s not a Japanese bike.
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 3:24 pm #

Wow, Mindy. Did YOU ever play volleyball for the Wolf Pack? If so, based on your self-description, the team would have never had to play while you were there. All the opposing teams would have taken one look at you and forfeited.

Of course, I’d have taken one look at this Wolf Pack team and surrendered, too.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6206/6082991993_5648b191c0_z.jpg
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 3:31 pm #

OMG! TWC’s Jim Cantore is standing in the snow in Boston and reporting it’s snowing in Boston. And he just reported seeing lightning. Thunder-snowgasm alert!
Mindy from Indy on 08 Feb 2013 at 4:00 pm #

OH MAN! A THUNDER-SNOWGASM?! Yahoo! Okay, I’m over it. Cantore kills me.

Restroom? Well, kind of. That was the problem. (Let’s just say it was a great reason to pull rank, and I owe an employee a nice treat, possibly dinner.)
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 4:08 pm #

Have a little thunder-snowgasm of your own there, did you Lady Mindy?

Lack of the immediate availability of a restroom, then?
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 4:08 pm #

No, JDS, I wasn’t thinking “rice burner”. An older model Italian bike, maybe?
Mindy from Indy on 08 Feb 2013 at 4:13 pm #

Ghost, To paraphrase William Shatner, “In. The. Worst. Possible. Way.”
Mindy from Indy on 08 Feb 2013 at 4:16 pm #

As for the snow-gasm, I’ll never tell.
JDS on 08 Feb 2013 at 4:24 pm #

Ghost Rider 6 – Older, yes. Italian, no. But, yes, it is European.
Mark in TTown on 08 Feb 2013 at 5:09 pm #

I can’t tell the model of the motorcycle, but if you enlarge the picture enough you can see the other llamas riding in the back of the car!
Is the bike by BMW?
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 5:36 pm #

Thought so, Lady Mindy. In my long and checkered career, been there and (OMG!) done that. Had to clean up stuff, that is. I’m guessing the dinner reward for your employee may need to wait awhile.

As for the snowgasm, a gentleman neither tells nor asks.
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 5:41 pm #

JDS, a Czech CZ?

Well, they make pretty good handguns, anyway.
John in Virginia on 08 Feb 2013 at 5:47 pm #

I’d ask…but Mindy would neuter me.
Mark in Boston on 08 Feb 2013 at 5:58 pm #

I can’t tell what kind of a motorcycle that is, but I can clearly see who’s driving the Toyota.

Mitt Romney.
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 6:04 pm #

Since we’ve discussed both sheep and Wolf Packs here recently, I thought this might be timely. (Mindy, I too sometimes wonder if Jimmy knows what goes on here when he’s away.)

Anyway, I just heard the French government will attempt to “educate” wolves not to kill and eat sheep. Plan A is to capture, cage, mark and release miscreant wolves, the thinking being that the process will so traumatize them that they will lose their appetite for mutton-on-the-hoof. Plan B, to deal with recidivist wolves, is to shoot and kill them. One way or the other, that’ll learn ‘em.
JDS on 08 Feb 2013 at 6:07 pm #

Ghost Rider 6 – No. Not Czech. But you’re close.
Mark in Boston – No. I know the name of the person on the motorcycle too, and that’s not it.
John in Virginia on 08 Feb 2013 at 6:23 pm #

Does that include recidivist French wolves who repeatedly pinch ladies on the bum?
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 6:26 pm #

JDS, the half-moon under seat exhaust tips are probably quite distinctive, but I really know butkus about Euro-cycles.
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 6:28 pm #

I’m guessing not, John, unless maybe he tries to eat them, too.
Country Boy on 08 Feb 2013 at 6:35 pm #

At least the French government is not planning to surrender to the wolves.
TruckerRon on 08 Feb 2013 at 7:36 pm #

Well, the Hooters/Toy Yoda story certainly checks out:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/05/09/toy-yoda.htm
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 08 Feb 2013 at 7:41 pm #

Re llamas: There are only two spp. of wild camelids in S.A.: guanacos and vicuñas. Llamas and alpacas are domesticated versions of the guanaco, the former a beast of burden, the latter a source of wool. The first camelids known are [Eocene?] fossils from N. America, and they had hooves, like many other artiodactyls. Their later descendants evolved the camel-toe arrangement as they adapted to sandy environments. At times there have been up to a half-dozen spp. of camels in N.A. Camelids did not get into S.A. and the Old World until a few million years ago. A Pleistocene sp. may have still been here when the first humans walked here from Asia via Beringia. 543 9.1
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 7:43 pm #

Ha! Tell Mindy, TruckerRon. She thinks I make up all this stuff!
Ghost Rider 6 on 08 Feb 2013 at 7:53 pm #

I can’t quite put my finger on it, but for some reason I’m not sure that waitress really had a future with the Hooters organization anyway.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj7ujqAxQO1qzehqto1_400.jpg
Dennis Ewing on 08 Feb 2013 at 8:51 pm #

Article 1 section 8 of the good old US constitution states that the US congress has the power to: To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;

Yes the standard mail class is at a reduced rate from first class mail, but the work of sort, and routing are done for the PO by the mailers. You have to send a minimum number to get the rate. The point is: without the standard mail mailers the cost to mail a single letter would be in the 20 dollar range. Plus the industry provides a lot of jobs beyond the PO. And the concept that “it kills trees” is utter BS. Trees for paper are farmed crops. A large percentage of paper fiber comes from recycled stock, again creating jobs. And don’t give me the buggy whip argument. It doesn’t stand up. If you don’t have any interest in the catalogs you get, let the mailer know. They don’t want to waste their cash mailing to someone who has no interest in their product. I spent 37 years in the printing industry. I saw first hand how all this works. It fed my family, paid for my home and I am just 1 of the people who work in the largest small business driven industries in the US. I saw a lot of change in that time, including the beginning of the constant whining of tree huggers who have no concept of how the paper industry works.

Rant off.
Jerry in Fl on 08 Feb 2013 at 11:07 pm #

Meanwhile, back at A & J, whatever happened to the kids? JJ, I saw some nice big pictures of roosters at Cracker Barrel last night.
Mindy from Indy on 08 Feb 2013 at 11:47 pm #

And did Arlo batten the hatches, secure the main sails, and whatever sailor-y stuff you are supposed to do when bad weather comes? Speaking of, to all Villagers getting hit with the snow and wind – stay safe and warm.
TruckerRon on 08 Feb 2013 at 11:56 pm #

And as an experienced trucker, I echo Mindy from Indy’s advice. When the roads aren’t safe, only travel if it’s a true emergency. No matter the on-time bonuses, since I was never carrying medicine for dying kids I chose to park every time the conditions were too dangerous. I never lost a load (or a rig) and the customers never griped since I called and explained what was happening. Our dispatchers did fuss a bit, but our safety officer backed me up every time.
Jerry in Fl on 09 Feb 2013 at 12:19 am #

I just checked the going price of our autographed versions of the A & J book on Amazon-$125.00. I guess that Our Great Leader will be moving from the Redneck Riviera to the French version. Here’s hopeing that great wealth doesn’t change you JJ.
Debbe59 on 09 Feb 2013 at 6:18 am #

LOL..Mindy…a Chicken Wing ;
Debbe59 on 09 Feb 2013 at 6:25 am #

At the chicken house the evening before, they stirred the poop pit. Evidently it stirred up the hens too, and cage doors opened. There were at least 25 loose hens running around. I’m gonna get me a fishing net to round them critters up the next time. Ever try running down a loose hen? Got my work out totally yesterday, egg production was 224 cases times 380 eggs equals 80,640 eggs.

Think I’ll go fix me an egg sandwich

It isn’t good for the people in the snowstorm, loosing power and no heat. My prayers are with them and for those of you who post here and live there….amen
Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Feb 2013 at 7:27 am #

Debbe. Please. You’ll just encourage her.

I was eggstatic to hear what you accomplished at work yesterday. I didn’t know that it required such an eggergetic response when hens eggress their cages and eggscape. The fishing net sounds like an eggcellent idea. However, I have to tell you my daddy always told me it was best “not to stir the poop” or words to that eggfect.

I trust Junior is doing well. BTW, do roosters get eggrections? Anyway, hope you and everyone else in the ville has an eggceptional day.
sandcastler on 09 Feb 2013 at 8:07 am #

Just read the morning news, seems New England is piloting the Saturday no mail service early. Depend on the thrifty Yankees to jump the gun on saving pennies.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 09 Feb 2013 at 8:21 am #

Trucker: I wish all of the truckers on I94/90 [btw. Eau Claire and Madison but on route to Chicagoland] were as wise. I’ve been trying to stay well below the limit after dark in a driving rain to reach our reserved motel in Black River Falls, Tomah, or Madison, with almost everyone [cars, suvs, and semis] zooming past at 70 or more. Visibility at most 1/4 mile.

Westbound one time, daytime, on the way back with our elder son driving, I noticed there was no traffic for miles on the eastbound lane. Son said something about a stalled semi over there. I got a better look. It was two semis, I’m sure with a dead driver in the rear one. All the eastbound traffic had been rerouted onto US 12, the old route. I saw the trooper cars and barriers at the next exit.
Debbe59 on 09 Feb 2013 at 8:27 am #

GR…Junior is great…still crowing eggceptionlly loud, what, with three hens in his cage, he does have something to crow about…..
Debbe59 on 09 Feb 2013 at 8:35 am #

Oh, and I found another rooster…got him in the top tier of cages with three other hens too. Put him in the middle of aisle three. He is one big rooster…need to name him though. He doesn’t crow as loud as Junior though. His comb is so large that when he tries to stand, he eyes are slanted, slitted or whatever….so, anyone have ideas to “let’s name the rooster”?

Got into a debate about the uselessness of a rooster in a hen house yesterday with my co-worker. Technically, she said, they should be euthanized because they don’t produce. My theory is the crowing stimulates egg production, and nobody better touch my roosters I told her. She is also my sister-in-law, and she can cuss like a sailor. I wish she wouldn’t use the Lords name in vain…and I’ve asked her not to, her response: “good luck, my mother has been trying to get me to stop it for years.” It’s like she can’t say a sentence without gd’ing. So I spend a lot of time out in the hen house, better to listing to their clucking than her f—ing!!!!
Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Feb 2013 at 8:55 am #

Debbe: Name him “Cogburn”.
Country Boy on 09 Feb 2013 at 9:10 am #

“…should be euthanized because they don’t produce.”

I hope HHS doesn’t take that approach for dispensing healthcare.
Mindy on 09 Feb 2013 at 9:25 am #

Debbe! Hi! Hugs! I would [suddenly serious] recommend a butterfly net rather than a fishing net. Or a throw net. A .410 shotgun would work also. I think Ghost was referring to me with that snide little “you’ll just encourage her” comment. God will get him for that. Also for that chauvinist “can’t put my finger on it” reference to the Hooters waitress. Just when you think he might be housebroken he comers out with that wearing his boxers and a ragged T-shirt, a cigarette between his lips, four days worth of needing a shave, a beer in one hand and the other scratching his…well, you get the idea. Where did I put my whip? Obviously the newspaper no longer works.

How often do you have one of those great escapes? I can just see a chicken dressed up like Steve McQueen jumping a BMW motorcycle over the chickenwire in an attempt to escape the dreaded Luftwaffle…
Llee on 09 Feb 2013 at 9:25 am #

$125, Jerry? Wow. Of course it is worth it, but is it Jimmy getting the money? Or is it just a re-sale? Maybe he should offer his own on Amazon for $120, undercut the other guy AND get the benefit.
Mindy on 09 Feb 2013 at 9:32 am #

Why is John suddenly going around the house muttering something about choking chickens? Am I missing something here again?
Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Feb 2013 at 9:37 am #

Mindy, has John also muttered anything about applying corporeal punishment to simian primates?
Country Boy on 09 Feb 2013 at 9:45 am #

GR6, another character for your “Pro Bono Beaver” cartoon: A small Italian simian named Spanka the Monkey.
Virgin Mindy on 09 Feb 2013 at 9:51 am #

What amazingly dull and insipid characters. Especially that ethereal one.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 09 Feb 2013 at 9:56 am #

It’s insipid to be concerned about a dead trucker?
Debbe59 on 09 Feb 2013 at 9:59 am #

Ethereal??? Know a lot of $50 words there VM….if we’re so dull and insipid, why do you come here?

Ghostie….I like Cogburn and Cogburn it is

When I hear about choking chickens I think of ‘Grasshopper’ hanging in the closet…..swallow that VM
Debbe59 on 09 Feb 2013 at 10:00 am #

Mindy…I think you just described my other half
Debbe59 on 09 Feb 2013 at 10:03 am #

Mindy…this was the first one of such ‘great escapes’. There’s over 16,500 cages, and sometimes those ‘girls’ get to flapping around, and the cage door will open. I’m beginning to believe they can actually open them on purpose…and they call them birdbrains…ha
Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Feb 2013 at 10:06 am #

Pay no attention to Virgin Mindy’s comment about an insipid ethereal character, folks. My theory is that she’s so attracted to that character that she sometimes becomes a bit delirious. Fevered minds, you know.

Really, sweetheart, I know you are capable of so much better than that. But have a wonderful day.
Country Boy on 09 Feb 2013 at 10:26 am #

GR6, another character for your “Pro Bono Beaver” cartoon: A young un-bred female canine named Virgin Mindy.
Mindy on 09 Feb 2013 at 10:27 am #

Dare I ask the other half of your what, Debbe? I’m beginning to become rather fond of Victor Mike. He/It/She [gotta be careful in case Ms. Collins is lurking!] is not unlike that disgusting pustule of disgruntled nagging called “little brother,” a major pain in certain parts of the anatomy, definitely an irritant and an inflammation that requires at least cocoanut oil to combat any spread, but one you can’t quite bring yourself to strangle in its sleep…At least I feel fairly confident that El Virginosity is real which Ms. Collins still seems more like a spur of the moment creation of one of our more ingenuous Villagers, of which there are several, not to mention one whose initials are…oh, never mind. Virgin? Come down off your high rocking horse and come inside. It’s time for you to sit in the corner and eat your porridge with the other creatures. [Wound a hug help, Dear?]
Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Feb 2013 at 10:28 am #

Now, now, CB. I’ll admit VM can be a bit spirited at times, but I certainly don’t think she’s what you’re implying.
Mindy on 09 Feb 2013 at 10:42 am #

Is Virgin related to El Ghost?
Mindy on 09 Feb 2013 at 10:43 am #

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.
Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Feb 2013 at 10:48 am #

Virgin Mary is like a niece to me since I extended the Loving Hand of Avuncular Friendship to her.

Hey, wait a sec, Mindy! Didn’t you once say something about me being like your “little brother”?
Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Feb 2013 at 10:49 am #

Sorry, Virgin Mindy. Don’t know why I keep getting those two confused.
Mindy on 09 Feb 2013 at 11:28 am #

It took awhile, didn’t it, Ghost?
Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Feb 2013 at 12:17 pm #

At least, Mindy, you haven’t strangled me in my sleep (yet), and, as I have pointed out, neither have Virgin Mindy’s parents strangled her. So I do indeed hold out some hope for the girl. Yes, I do think “girl”. If for no other reason than I can’t imagine a guy calling himself Virgin Anything.
Mark in Boston on 09 Feb 2013 at 5:47 pm #

Strange double standard on virgins. A 30-year-old virgin woman is virtuous. A 30-year-old virgin man is suspected of having serious problems.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 09 Feb 2013 at 7:37 pm #

Mark: Maybe. Not every woman today wants compliments on her virtue.
TruckerRon on 09 Feb 2013 at 9:45 pm #

Mark: That rule doesn’t apply to Catholic priests. Right?

eMb: Virtues are treated like character faults by much of modern society, but that doesn’t change the fact that most of us instinctively distrust people with no apparent virtues.
Mark in TTown on 09 Feb 2013 at 10:09 pm #

eMb: I think it was you who was talking about D’Oyly Carte’s Gilbert and Sullivan. I ran across a website that has older material on cd.
After looking at this, check the rest of the site. They have a huge comedy section with several by Stanley Holloway too. No joy on the animal hospital routine, though.
http://www.oldies.com/artist-view/DOyly-Carte-Opera-Company.html
Ghost Rider 6 on 09 Feb 2013 at 11:04 pm #

Lady Mindy, I do so hope you caught Cantore reporting from Boston this morning…equipped with, wait for it, wait for it, snowshoes and ski poles. He got to tromp around on the “twenty inches” of snow at his reporting location. Meanwhile, in the background, one could plainly see public service and utility personnel without the winter accouterments getting around in the snow quite well, thank you.

And reporting from NYC, Stephanie “Big ‘Uns” Abrams actually asked a police spokesman “why so many cars got stuck in the snow” on the LI Expressway during the blizzard. (Stephanie. Hon. You do realize what snow is like, don’t you? I mean, you being a meteorologist and all.) To his credit, the spokesman attempted to give a non-lame answer to her über-lame question. Hope the saline in her implants didn’t freeze today the way her brain apparently did.
Mindy on 10 Feb 2013 at 1:57 am #

Those may not be implants, Ghost. She may be wearing a life vest to protect her from flooding when the snow melts. Silly male person, always overlooking viable alternatives. John says NYPD is definitely getting mellow[er] if the officer didn’t jump on her question [or her] like a trout hitting a Mayfly. [That countryism has always fascinated since I have never once seen a trout take a swing at a Mayfly, much less actually hit one!]
Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Feb 2013 at 4:44 am #

Mindy, perhaps he hadn’t ruled out the possibility of being allowed to personally inspect her Personal Flotation Devices and was therefore just being nice. Although having to listen to a bunch of inane comments and/or goofy questions during the inspection of her PFDs would likely obviate much of the pleasure of doing so.

You did promise to stop obviating pokies, didn’t you? Wouldn’t want you to get in trouble with PETP, would we? (Maybe I should join; I’ve always had a policy of treating pokies enthusiastically.)

Today’s (2-10-13) cartoon uses the same oddly different lettering style we noticed and remarked about on 2-1-13. Perhaps it denotes when Arlo is speaking ex officio, as he seemed to be doing to Ludwig this time and to “we the people” last time. Perhaps someone should ask Jimmy. (Perhaps not me. I’m trying to stay below his radar.)

Think I go on an early-morning pokie hunt. Don’t worry, PETP…I’m all about “catch and release” when it comes to pokies.
Mindy on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:13 am #

In answer to one of Ghost’s earlier comments/inquiries, I have researched prior posts and discovered that, yes, I had mentioned Llamas [previously], but I was thinking of the credits leading in to Python’s “Holy Grail” as well as Llamas named Tony, not the South American or Spanish made handguns named Llama. Do they still manufacture those weapons? If so, how come…oh, never mind, that’s political. John once contemplated buying a .45acp Llama. His Lieutenant admitted that they were “fine weapons which could be counted on to fire 10 out of 11 times.” John spent more and bought Colt. That’s now MY weapon of choice even though he bought me the sissy Commander with a shorter barrel. How did I get on handguns after starting with “earlier comments/inquiries” anyhoo? Oh, yeah, I see.

A great big hug for Debbe!
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:14 am #

Good morning to all….

http://slideshow.nbcnews.com/slideshow/today/animal-tracks-jan-31-feb-6-50708797/

rats…..it didn’t show slide 14….click on 14…..
Mindy on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:29 am #

Gooooooooooooooooood morning, Debbe! [In my best Robin Williams voice, which is pretty lousy, I admit.] I’ve bookmarked that link. May have some wallpaper in there! Caution: Ghost has worked pokies back into the conversation. If I wasn’t so shy and prim and proper and all that, I’d show Ghost some pokies that would traumatize him into udder silence for hours.
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:39 am #

Mindy…he’s probably already visited those sites

I like to visit the Animal Tracks slideshow every Sunday..and I have gotten some really nice wallpaper from there. Nat Geo also has great pics.

I did like Robin Williams in that movie…the other one was when he played an intern, in a children’s ward..can’t remember the movie’s name.

Not going to watch the grammys, but I bet CBS’s letter of ‘keep it covered’ won’t affect some of the “too much skin”….GR…will you be watching?
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:41 am #

Just udderly speaking http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rsc.org/images/udder-275_tcm18-49731.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2006/March/06030602.asp&h=206&w=275&sz=14&tbnid=iG4Oo8GBBUJDDM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=122&zoom=1&usg=__bQAi0PJzI0Rvl5imjq3eXHf3nQE=&docid=AWZ64qC34xw5LM&sa=X&ei=JocXUbr3DaeNyAGM0oCwDw&ved=0CDsQ9QEwAg&dur=1713
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:42 am #

woo hoo Mindy…we’re on a roll this morning
Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:44 am #

Really, Mindy? Traumatizing pokies?

I liked pic #23, “Keeping Their Pants On”. The husky on the right resembles Ubu, except that Ubu’s tongue is longer. Ubu is very popular with…well, never mind.

No, Debbe, I’ll probably just watch the “highlights” reel. ‘Bye.
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:49 am #

Mindy…here’s the link for the archive of animal tracks

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6356101
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:54 am #

GR…liked that pic too. it’s the eyes on the one dog that just melts your heart.
Mindy on 10 Feb 2013 at 6:02 am #

Patch Adams? Not sure, he was an MD in that one…Did you notice that Ghost completely missed “udder” in that post? I wonder what your udderly wonderful link did to his consecration. I mean, concentration.

Thanks for the archive, Debbe. I like either dark compositions for wallpaper or animals or very old houses and castles. I’d love to live in a castle. Then I could pour boiling water on unwanted visitors such as last summer’s preacher or The Virgin Mindy or Ms. Collins or those guys who want to do driveway repairs cheap and who always get upset when John asks for their licenses…and detains them for the local police. John enjoys doing that. If I’m not back this afternoon, I went swimming again. Missed my routine the past week and I really need the endorphins. John’s been mean to me, he hid my swim outfit and left me with the one I have to fight with to keep it from falling off when I get out of the water. I will get even with him. I will. Soon. Very soon.
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 6:17 am #

Mindy…Good luck on keeping your swim suit on

Regarding today’s Sunday comic, I came up with this website when googling Lincoln and shite house cats: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/breeds/catopics/cat_presidential.htm

Mary In Ohio….don’t you have a few cats in your house too?
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 6:18 am #

oops, I meant to type white house cats….gotta be a Freudian slip in there somewhere, don’t ya think????
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 6:24 am #

My comment above the 6:18 post is awaiting moderation…real quick repeat: (I guess it’s due to the misspelling of white house)

Regarding today’s Sunday comic, I campe up with this website when googling Lincoln and white house cats:

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/breeds/catopics/cat_presidential.htm
Mindy on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:02 am #

There are so many crude and vulgar comments just begging to be used that Ms. Collins has gone into hiding at a Tibetan Monestary disguised as a Fig Newton. I will restrain myself. I will! I will! [Rather sounds like Peter Pan, no?]
Mindy on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:05 am #

Don’t even think about touching that line, Ghost! sandcastler? TruckerRon? Can you help keep le famtome, el fantasma, das Gespenst in line? [Choose whichever you believe suits him best.]
Anonymous on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:41 am #

Oh, M*I*N*D*Y you are so P*A*T*H*E*T*I*C. Or perhaps not. This crowd seems to like you.
Ginger on 10 Feb 2013 at 9:10 am #

I like that. El Fantasma. Of course, Le Famtome has a ring to it, too! But das Gespenst? That sounds like a hacking cold. Hold out for something better, Mr. GhostRider.
Mark in TTown on 10 Feb 2013 at 9:14 am #

Debbe59 and Mindy, the London Daily Telegraph also posts animal pictures on Sundays: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/9858039/Animal-pictures-of-the-week-8-February-2013.html?frame=2470157

And they are cat-heavy in today’s selection, yay!
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 9:36 am #

Thanks for the link Mark, I now have it booked marked too….it was sad to learn that only 30 golden tabby tigers exist on the planet, none exist in the wild though. I now have a new wallpaper…

Gotta check it out Mindy….
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 9:38 am #

I saved this from a while back, a lab and his cheetah:

http://animaltracks.today.com/_news/2012/04/20/11309458-labrador-pup-and-cheetah-cub-celebrate-a-year-of-friendship
Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Feb 2013 at 11:05 am #

Mindy, you should know by now I’m much too much the gentleman to touch your “lines”. Why, I’m so chivalrous I’d even gladly give you a hand (or hands) with your falling-down swim attire. (I let “udder” pass, as it was just too easy. It’d have been like shooting pokies in a tank top.)

I agree with Ginger…Gespenst sounds too much like the sound Ubu makes when he inhales an entire can of food with one gulp. (Ginger, why so formal? Call me “Ghost”.) Le Famtome is not bad, but I suppose I’ll stick with El Fantasma, as Lady Mindy seems to derive some type of snarky, psycosexual delight from that nickname. I think she likes to picture me in a ball gown, or a pair of thong panties, or something. And who am I to deny a Lady (or a lady) her psycosexual thrills? Or any other type of sexual thrills, for that matter?

Mindy, I too would like to live in a castle. When you were not busy bathing visitors with hot liquids from the fortifications of yours, you could come over and let me show you mine. I’d especially love to give you a tour of the basement. It would have some marvelous furnishings! (Virgin Mindy could come, too.)

Good morning, Anonymous! Have a super day, sweetheart.
Ginger on 10 Feb 2013 at 11:18 am #

Thank you, Mark! Great link! Ghost, I may have been born at night, but not last night! Go into the basement with you? For a tour, as it were? Uh huh, and I’m sure your intentions are totally honorable, which is why you want to bring the Virgin Mindy along, right?

[I'll think about it...]
Ginger on 10 Feb 2013 at 11:25 am #

Darn! I hate it when Ginger uses my PC! [Gender specific pronoun deleted] really can be a pain in the caboose. But I’ll ask and she if [gender specific pronoun deleted] is interested in the basement tour with you and la vierge. [Pourquoi dois-je douter de la partie vierge?]

Oops! Ms. Collins loathes the vulgarity of French! Makes her tongue tingle!
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 12:00 pm #

Basement furnishings????

Gotta go….IU is playing Ohio…and we’re under severe thunderstorm warnings….if I lose my satellite to this storm….

later…………….
Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Feb 2013 at 12:17 pm #

Ginger/Mindy/Whoever, I have an appropriate yet very inappropriate language-related quote from one of the Austin Powers movies (just how does one tell them apart, anyway?), but since I have no desire to be banished forthwith from the ville today, I shan’t quote it.

As regards Virgin Mindy’s virginité, to use a very old maxim, “la preuve du pudding, c’est qu’on le mange.”

Yes, Ms. Curtis, that really is a very old saying.
Mindy on 10 Feb 2013 at 1:26 pm #

Who is Pudding? I remember Puddy being Sylvester el Gatto…never mind.
sandcastler on 10 Feb 2013 at 2:03 pm #

…like shooting pokies in a tank top.

GR6,may I freely quote you? We were at the local home show today, sundresses are beginning to appear for the season; pokies cannot be far behind.
Jerry in Fl on 10 Feb 2013 at 2:05 pm #

If the “Villagers” don’t realize what this forum is becoming then it wouldn’t do any good to tell you. It appears that it has become another Facebook, Youtube, etc. I suppose that all good things must end.
Mindy on 10 Feb 2013 at 2:40 pm #

That makes me stop and think. Very hard.
Debbe59 on 10 Feb 2013 at 3:01 pm #

IU wins again….Tom Creen is an exceptionally good, coach. Especially if you had to follow in the footsteps of Bobby Knight, but I believe there were a couple of coaches there inbetween now and then

Mindy…did you slip up? “Darn! I hate it when Ginger uses my PC! [Gender specific pronoun deleted] really can be a pain in the caboose. But I’ll ask and she if [gender specific pronoun deleted] is interested in the basement tour with you and la vierge.”
Mindy on 10 Feb 2013 at 3:07 pm #

Okay, I’ve finished thinking it over. We have options. We can come in here and kid around, share news as friends do, without being mean spirited, or we can limit ourselves to hip replacements or approved educational topics with tests to follow and a minimum GPA of 2.0 to pass. Personally, unless Jimmy specifies otherwise [and he IS the final authority, friends and neighbors], I choose Option One, that being “as friends do,” politics/theology limited, ailments and illnesses optional but not dominate. Jimmy IS the final authority but, unless we become vicious and/or truly offensive, I do honestly believe that he intended and intends for The Village to be for fun. Some people may find simply fun and enjoyment to be undesirable but I have ALWAYS had fun in here, as I suspect the majority has and does, which is why people keep coming back. IMHO, most have been having NON-JUDGMENTAL fun. Tell me if I’m wrong. Your opinion is as valid as mine. But please explain rather than simply condemning. I yield the floor to the [gender specific pronoun deleted] from [geographically specific noun deleted].

I’ll be back later. I’m going to go do something else that is fun and enjoyable and does not include butterflies or fat free margarine.
sandcastler on 10 Feb 2013 at 3:21 pm #

^°^°^°^°^ votes with Mindy™.
Don in Oklahoma on 10 Feb 2013 at 3:24 pm #

I vote for keeping it the way it is now. Nothing rude, but it is an adult site so I feel that there is more leeway for open speech. If you are uncomfortable with the way the site is going, you don’t have to come here and try to change everyone to your point of view. I personally enjoy the adult oriented conversations that appear on these pages and will continue to come back for more.
Mindy on 10 Feb 2013 at 3:56 pm #

Debbe, frustration is high. “She” was supposed to read “see.”
Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Feb 2013 at 4:31 pm #

A comment I just posted on the current topic has apparently dropped into the Dark Hole of Moderation, although not for any reason you might think. Jimmy can decide if it’s worth pulling out of the Pit.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:08 pm #

Amen, with mild exceptions. I sometimes use She instead of the more conventional He, just to keep us on our toes, and occasionally copy-edit with no malice intended [e.g., try dominant instead of dominate]. Peace, emb
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:24 pm #

Not only does this Sunday’s strip use the printshop font, none of its baloons have borders. I went back through the week, and realized that JJ is flexible about baloon borders, sometimes omitting them when a panel has only one speaker, for instance, or when it’s a loud exclamation.

Arlo and Janis would make a good master’s thesis topic, but you wouldn’t want an English grad student to actually tire of the strip, and I’m not sure JJ would want someone to do it.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:30 pm #

balloon.
sandcastler on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:41 pm #

eMb, was that not some of what the Virgin Mindy claimed to be doing on a more sophomoric level? Lord knows what she might do at the collegiate level, especially with Ghost egging her on.
JDS on 10 Feb 2013 at 5:41 pm #

Dear Ghost Rider 6: The motorcycle is a 2005 BMW F650GS Dakar. The rider is Allan Karl. He spent 2005 to 2007 on a trip around the world — from top to bottom, then all the way around — alone on a motorcycle. He has a very interesting web site with photos and a blog of his trip. http://www.worldrider.com/blog/whowhy.php

I happened to stumble onto his site last year when following the progress of my daughter Leslie as she drove a mototaxi from Cuzco to Piura.
Steve from Royal Oak, MI on 10 Feb 2013 at 6:48 pm #

Everything in moderation. (Not that kind of moderation). I have been to this site since the days that it was just Jimmy and we were emailing him. There have been times that the conversation would get a little political; sometimes folks would write about subjects that I found boring. I found useful device on my mouse called a scroll dial. If we were talking about stuff that I did not want to read, I would skim the posts and scroll right past them.

I do want to applaud everyone for surviving through an election year with a minimal of rancor. There is a lot of fun stuff to talk about and I look forward to discussing all of it. I also look forward to hearing about some of the everyday events that either aggravate or tickle us. Let’s try to keep it clean (the double entendre can be funnier than the blue humor) and respect each other. Pretty simple.
Galliglo in Ohio on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:05 pm #

Steve from ROM: You are SO sensible!
Mark in TTown on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:24 pm #

And so right! I hope everyone in the Village is doing ok with all this bad weather. Here in West Alabama it has been raining all day. Flood watch in effect till tomorrow morning. I met the crew of volunteers working on my mom’s new house Friday. They were from Wisconsin, and when I apologized for all the cool rainy weather, they told me this was like a vacation compared to what was happening back home!
Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:25 pm #

JDS, thanks for the info and the link. I’ll check out the site when tornados finish passing through my area. I’ve had text contact with two friends in the Hattiesburg MS area. Large tornado passed through the heavily residential area west of Hattiesburg and through the downtown area. Much severe damage reported, including on the campus of University of South Mississippi.
Mark in TTown on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:27 pm #

By the way, Mindy. I know you were looking for some older TV shows on DVD earlier. Check the link I posted for emb because that same site has old movies and classic TV that I have not seen on other sites. Even genuine LP’s.
Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:27 pm #

That’s U of Southern Mississippi, of course. Trying to type too fast.
Mindy from Indy on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:47 pm #

I am aware of the current debate, but am choosing to sidestep the entire issue so I can bemoan a bit: The stirrings of spring fever evoked with the latest plant catalogue, crushed by the knowledge I am an apartment-dweller with no patio, and a cat who doubles as a lawnmower. I need a lawn. Heck, I’ll even take some of Mindy’s bamboo-infested lawn. I want to see green, growing things without kitty-teeth shaped pieces missing from the leaves.
Mindy from Indy on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:50 pm #

(fat fingers strike again!) Be safe everyone: be it snow, floods, tornadoes, or other drivers – it wouldn’t be the same without everyone!
Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:53 pm #

For anyone with interests in the Hattiesburg MS area local TV has live stream at http://www.wdam.com
TruckerRon on 10 Feb 2013 at 7:54 pm #

Regarding the animal pictures of the week at the UK Telegraph, I loved the one of the young vixen with her tongue stuck to the ice.

Mindy, I’d rein in GR6 for you if I could, but I’ve not found a way to kick a keister through a computer monitor.
sandcastler on 10 Feb 2013 at 8:00 pm #

GR6, no mention of the tornado but this on marijuana grow houses, http://m.wdam.com/ms/p/a3/123/view.m?id=124279&storyId=21090415&news=Top%20Stories&news2=Main
Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Feb 2013 at 8:10 pm #

Ouch! Consider it kicked, TR.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 10 Feb 2013 at 8:33 pm #

Mark: ‘I hope everyone in the Village is doing ok with all this bad weather.’

N. MN has been under various winter storm and blizzard advisories since Sat. morning and w/b through Mon. afternoon. Church was half empty this morning [1030], and only 5 of us were there for Adult Forum at 0900. Usual lunch group ringleader and wife were absent, and I was happy to brush off the Prius and not accumulate another 1 1/2 hours’ snow during lunch. Hunker down and play cook again, shop Mon. pm; the supermkt. is close. Contracted snow plower was here after lunch, but will have to be again Mon. pm, especially if the wind picks up, which is likely. The voles and pocket gophers are happy for the extra insulation, but the deer are stressed.
Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Feb 2013 at 10:22 pm #

P.S. to JDS: Was busy storm-tracking and forgot to add, in addition to checking out the site on the motorcyclist, I’ll try to figure out where Cuzco and Piura are.

P.P.S. Storms all missed me. Close but no cigar.
Mindy on 10 Feb 2013 at 10:43 pm #

Hi, Galliglo! Long time no see! Ghost, thanks for the Mississippi live stream link. That made me think that perhaps Villagers might want to offer such live stream links available in their areas as well. It’s a new idea to me, will be looking for similar links in New Orleans area, but there are definitely times when I’d dearly love to be able to link up with other areas across the country. It’s the wrong time for me to do so tonight but [this is for you, sandcastler!] I definitely plan to GOOGLE the links tomorrow when I get the time! Nonetheless, if you all [that's Southern and I hope it's not objectionable] have links, why not post them here? I’ll make a bookmark folder and incorporate them there for future reference available on request for everyone. [I know! I know! Never ever volunteer for anything, any time, any place, anyhow...]
Ghost Rider 6 on 10 Feb 2013 at 11:26 pm #

You are very welcome, Mindy. That’s not a bad idea for us to list our local news feeds for times when something might be happening that concerns some of us. And I didn’t even have to grit my teeth to give you that compliment.

I thought most of the “bad” weather had cleared the area, but I just stepped out on my porch, and it much resembles the night Dr. Frankenstein jump started his monster. Cable has been out for hours and DSL connection to the Internet has been coming and going, but I gather there’s been some cumulonimbus redevelopment. Guess I’ll hit the sack (with weather alert radio set) and hope for a better tomorrow. G’nite all.
Mark in TTown on 10 Feb 2013 at 11:37 pm #

Mindy, do you know what Navy means? Never Again Volunteer Yourself!
Goodnight all!
TruckerRon on 11 Feb 2013 at 12:01 am #

Mindy, there’s also the US ARMY = Uncle Sam Ain’t Released Me Yet!

“To sleep, perchance to Dream; Aye, there’s the rub…”
Jerry in Fl on 11 Feb 2013 at 2:14 am #

I knew that you could do it! Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow.
Debbe59 on 11 Feb 2013 at 3:28 am #

Gooooood morning fellow Villagers!!!!

It’s another day, and let’s get out to play…rats, just remembered it’s Monday.

I really enjoy coming here and posting and reading and learning and snerking

Cogburn, eh GR? Rooster Cogburn (in the tone of Bond, James Bond)

ya’ll have a blessed day…I’m sure I’ll be running down hens today. High schoolers work the weekends and all they want to do is get in there and get out…always leaving blocks of eggs on the lines and lose hens and a dirty, yolky packer, so Mondays are always met with…aagghhh!!

Good day Mindy…and hugs too.
Rick in Shermantown, Ohio on 11 Feb 2013 at 4:41 am #

“Hey, Killer!” strip of 02.11.13:

A couple of years ago, my neighbor put up both a bird feeder and bath.

I told her that I thought it was awfully nice of her to give her cat new toys.
John in Virginia on 11 Feb 2013 at 5:04 am #

I vote with Mindy, because I agree, not because of any spousal relationship. The only caveat would be if Jimmy says to change the tone in which case it would be mandatory to do so. If you want my opinion, however, which few ever do, I suspect he sits back and watches the interaction in the Village, as it’s now being accurately called, and the interaction and honestly adult humor may well be an inspiration to him. What makes Jimmy and his work great is the fact that he obviously watches himself and those around him, picking out the real and the humorous and, occasionally, the sad (such as one or two past references to his Dad’s WW2 service, poignant and stirring) and, I suspect, he also LISTENS. Reading what’s in here, for him, would be both watching and listening. Arlo & Janis, we all agree, is one of, if not THE, best cartoons around. It is an adult cartoon even though it is a clean cartoon (okay, Ghost, I agree, it is sometimes suggestive but I think MOST will agree that life & marriage is more often than not suggestive). He peeks in our windows and reports the human activities he sees. He does that pretty darned well, to be honest, and perhaps the critics of the Village also bluster and b*atch when he kicks the Puritanical can a bit. Kids wouldn’t see the humor, I think, at least not consistently. To truly appreciate Arlo & Janis you have to be an adult with some level of maturity, and it sure helps if you are or have been married or if you are or have lived intimately with someone else of the Human species. (There you go, Ms. Collins! Leap all over that “unmarried” part! Carry it even a step further. I didn’t even rule out the non-Heterosexual possibilities! And, there! I said it! “Sexuality!” Oh, my God, the sky is going to turn grey!)

In other words (I did take the long way around; I’ve been with Mindy so long I’m picking up her habits!), We’re here because of Jimmy Johnson and A&J. I think Mindy’s right: As long as we keep politics and religion to a minimum, only because those two, plus gun rights, generally lead to strong discussion, and don’t get mean and hurtful, I think The Village will flourish and be a great place for FRIENDS to congregate. Just remember! Sometimes FRIENDS do or say something a little out of line. Because they are FRIENDS and because the had no vicious, harmful intent, we accept that human failing and they remain FRIENDS.

Who gets the soap box next? And I love the streaming local news video archive!
Mark from Maine on 11 Feb 2013 at 8:20 am #

Rick in Shermantown: We refer to bird food as “bait.”
Ruth Anne in Winter Park on 11 Feb 2013 at 8:55 am #

I don’t mind when the humor is “adult” and agree with Steve that double entendres, especially the really creative ones, are usually funnier. There are times however when the repartee begins to more closely resemble what I’ve been hearing for 40+ years from the teenage boys that I work with – much less entertaining. Plus, too much scrolling makes me dizzy
Lost in A**2 on 11 Feb 2013 at 10:55 am #

I know that there was something I wanted to say here, but I’ve forgotten what it was. Ah well.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 11 Feb 2013 at 11:26 am #

It’s been a while, since last Wed., no? Jimmy: Are you ok?
Russel Trojan on 11 Feb 2013 at 11:34 am #

Adult humor can be amusing, however mocking people should never be considered adult behavior. Ms. Collins deserves an apology. That would be my take from outside the village.
Just Curious on 11 Feb 2013 at 12:33 pm #

Mocking, Russel, or satirizing? And if there is no difference between the two, should someone have informed Jonathan Swift that he was guilty of childish behavior in his writings? Just wondering.
Dave in MA on 11 Feb 2013 at 12:39 pm #

So, adult humor is funny, until it isn’t. Too much is too much, but not enough is not enough. Who claims what amount is too much? What line gets drawn in the sand, and who draws it? If someone is offended, you know the saying, just skip the message and go to the next one.

Can’t talk guns, religion and politics because it’s too vehement, now can’t be suggestive because someone is offended? Well personally, THAT offends ME! And there are MANY who know me personally that would classify me as a prude!

Come on people! It’s no fun to hang out and chat with people who are going to constantly be offended at every little nuance in a discussion.
Ghost Rider 6 on 11 Feb 2013 at 1:17 pm #

On this date in 1985, Henry Hathaway died. Mr. Hathaway directed “True Grit” and several other John Wayne films. Why is that pertinent to this blog? Why, because of Duke’s character in “True Grit”, Rooster Cogburn, of course. Hi, Debbe!

I hope this wasn’t too controversial for anyone.
Mindy on 11 Feb 2013 at 1:21 pm #

I heard a joke that Willie Nelson once told, if anyone wants to hear it. I don’t think it mocks anyone although it could. Hi Debbe. Hi Ghost. Hi Dave & eMb. Hi Ginger and John. Hi sandcastler. Hi everyone else. But a hug for Debbe.
TruckerRon on 11 Feb 2013 at 1:21 pm #

I’m classified as polite, soft-spoken, and friendly by the patients at the state hospital where I’m a volunteer chaplain. I’ll never be classified as PC because I’m willing to state unpleasant truths (as I see them) to patients, friends, family, and neighbors. I don’t dance around issues to avoid stepping on toes. It saves time and people learn they can trust me to level with them.

As for “adult humor” and “adult language”: I laugh at the funny stuff and skip over the mundane, sophomoric, and boring bits. And I find that I’m falling in like with at least 2 of our Mindys.
sandcastler on 11 Feb 2013 at 1:44 pm #

^°^°^°^°^ hangs “Business Closed” sign on the bait and tackle shop.
Ghost Rider 6 on 11 Feb 2013 at 1:58 pm #

Apparently, Mayor Johnson didn’t make it in today and was therefore not available to consider releasing my comment of yesterday afternoon from the A&Jville Moderation Gaol. No matter; others here have spoken to the same subject, and better. I will add this, however…

A CAUTIONARY TALE

A while back, I discovered a blog hosted by an author whose work I have found to be unfailingly clever, thought provoking and entertaining. Based on that fact and my experience with this blog, I eagerly checked out his blog, thinking it would be scintillating. Wrong.

I quickly determined that blog to be little more than an intellectual [activity performed by a bunch of guys who have formed a circle]. Almost every comment seemed to have the sole purpose of reinforcing the world view and opinions of those of all the other commenters. The one voice in the wilderness was a person who would on occasion take mild exception to the party line, and who would then be set upon like wolves attacking someone wearing a meat shirt, sometimes joined by the moderator. And this from a group of people who supposedly espouse the value of diversity, inclusiveness and tolerance. Needless to say, I no longer waste my time visiting that blog.

The A&J blog is a very special place, as well as being a lot of fun, but the day it becomes as homogeneous in thought and expression as that other blog is the day I will delete its URL from my Favorites list and never return. Fortunately, I see no evidence of that occurring here.
Mindy on 11 Feb 2013 at 2:23 pm #

TruckerRon, that was about one of the sweetest things two of us have ever heard!

And I love homogenized mild, Ghost! What’s wrong with it?
Steve from Royal Oak, MI on 11 Feb 2013 at 2:55 pm #

Well the Pope has resigned, so maybe Jimmy has too….No, there would be too much uproar!
Robin in FL on 11 Feb 2013 at 3:56 pm #

Steve from RO

So now what do we call him? Do we go back to whoever he was before he was who he is now? Do people still have to, um, kiss his ring?
Steve from Royal Oak, MI on 11 Feb 2013 at 4:14 pm #

No one HAS to kiss his ring or of Cardinals but even retired Cardinals may have their ring kissed from time to time. Retired Cardinals are still called Cardinals. My guess is that he will retire quietly. No Oprah interview for him. When a Pope dies, we call them by his Pope name but refer to their previous name. So I think he will always be Pope Benedict. But yeah taht is a great question, it will seem strange.

My opinion, not that anyone cares, is that Pope John Paul taught us how to die and to persevere. Pope Benedict has made it easier for future Popes that are incapacitated to resign. With all of the medical miracles, a person can live a long time, but not really be capable of running the huge church.

Queen Elizabeth does much but enough that if she slows down, she may decide to abdicate. There is enough royalty to fill in for her. I would compare the Pope more to Supreme Court Justices who hang on because the President is a different party or they are too stubborn to retire. During those times, their aides do most of their work. During JP’s last year or so, his aides did much of his work.
Jerry in Fl on 11 Feb 2013 at 4:56 pm #

It’s called Hustler Magazine for those of you who are interested and as far as I know it features full frontal nudity. I enjoy mature, intelligent adult humor, which leaves out Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and flatulence sounds (Blazing Saddles excepted of course). Last I checked, this forum was at least occasionally about a cartoon which has extremely clever and, for a newspaper cartoon, slightly risque humor about the bathtub, the bedroom, etc, but not to the exclusion of anything else and not to the level where this was at. This has nothing to do with approaching Lent, which I know nothing about anyway. How many people think that the Pope resigned because of his age and who said we couldn’t discuss religion? I don’t care if you dance around a bonfire under the full moon.
Lost in A**2 on 11 Feb 2013 at 5:59 pm #

Steve, by “John Paul,” did you mean, “John Paul II”? I didn’t think the first John Paul ruled long enough to leave much of an impression.

I expect that the Pope will retire to an hermitage, not to be seen again until his funeral. So how to address him will be of no import to most of us. Those who see him will probably use something like “Reverend Father.”

Speaking of his funeral brings up an interesting question of protocol: will he still be rendered the honours of a deceased sitting Pope? I do think it would be fitting for the then-current Pope to perform his requiem mass. After all, it would not be impossible for him to survive his successor.
Lost in A**2 on 11 Feb 2013 at 6:00 pm #

I can accept that the Pope decided to resign, without prompting from any but God.
Mindy from Indy on 11 Feb 2013 at 8:27 pm #

Again, bypassing current events in The Village, I must comment on yesterday’s(?) walkie-talkie strip. Phone batteries cringe when they see me coming for them. I am a power talker. I’ve depleted three separate, fully-charged phones during the same conversation. (Long story, no pun intended, but why not while I’m here? )

In other news, that stupid gutter I’ve reported THREE times now is finally (mostly) silenced. Thank you to me. Today’s 35+ mph wind gusts kept the gutter in constant motion and me crazy. Unfortunately, the way the gutter is damaged, there is still way too much material to pull completely free of the building, which I had fully intended to do, consequences be damned. I improvised. I turned the gutter so it won’t catch so much air, tied a length of rope around it, pulled it as tight as I could against the building, and shut the rope in my window. It will be interesting to see how long it takes before anyone comes to fix the problem and notices my innovation.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 11 Feb 2013 at 8:46 pm #

Lost:

Whether a pope is more likely to ‘hear from’ God than anyone else is a bone of contention among sects that I won’t pursue. I did, however, write something about epiphanies in 2004, which I’ve modified below.

‘In her long poem “Aurora Leigh” (1856), Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote: “Earth’s crammed with heaven, / And every common bush afire with God; / But only he who sees takes off his shoes.”* Her famous reference, Exodus chapter 3, reads: “And, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. When Elohím saw that Moses had turned aside to look, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ Moses answered, ‘Here I am!’ God said, ‘Do not come near! Take off your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground.’ ”

‘EBB does not ask, “Did the bush really burn?” That modern question is irrelevant to this 3,000-year old religious affirmation, written by a scribe who cared little about scientific accuracy. The faithful question is not, “Did it really happen?” but “What does it mean?” In the desert, a devout, imaginative man felt called to liberate his people. That’s what matters. I don’t know if the bush burned but was not consumed, but both believers and skeptics can learn much from the man who saw it.’

*Today, she might have written, ‘only they who see take off their shoes’.

Peace, emb
Lost in A**2 on 11 Feb 2013 at 8:48 pm #

Ah. I remembered what I had wanted to say: I tend to ignore the effects of weather, working through just about anything. After all, even when folks won’t drive, they still want to get where they were planning to go. So we stay busy. And if there is money to be made . . .

Howsomeever, not everyone is so impervious to the whims of nature. I’ve heard a little bit on the radio, and a little bit more here, and wonder if, perhaps, our Webmaster has been discommoded. Perhaps he’ll comment upon his return, and perhaps he won’t. As long as he returns.
Charlotte in NH on 11 Feb 2013 at 8:52 pm #

Mindy from Indy, you did the right thing … good for you. Isn’t it a stretch, though, for you to reach the gutter?
In more weather-related news, a Facebook friend complained about ice dams (she lives in Massachusetts). Some of her far-flung friends in other climates didn’t even know what one was!
Mindy from Indy on 11 Feb 2013 at 9:29 pm #

Charlotte in NH, I live in the top floor of my building. I have gutters both above and below my windows. The nuisance gutter is … er WAS an upper one. All I had to do was open the window, pop out the screen and reach out.

Just a few minutes ago, a saucepan lid fell over on my kitchen counter. Both the cat and I have been curled up on the chair and couch. Ghost, if you are going to be in my kitchen, please do the dishes!
Ghost Rider 6 on 11 Feb 2013 at 9:44 pm #

Lady Mindy, it was not I who knocked off the saucepan lid, believe me. I was just quietly observing when your clumsy resident ghost, Angus, bumbled by and caused the ruckus. I’m still trying to decide which of you jumped higher, you or the cat.

Oh, wait. Angus says you don’t know about him. So just forget I said anything. Have a good evening.
Mark in TTown on 11 Feb 2013 at 9:46 pm #

Mindy from Indy, perhaps it was Arlo in the kitchen. Or Jimmy is away on a window-peeping trip getting new material.

On another topic, I found the complete Victory at Sea series on DVD at Wally World this weekend for $5. So you still can get good entertainment/education cheap.
Mindy from Indy on 11 Feb 2013 at 9:59 pm #

Too late Ghost, Angus, huh? Could you pass along a message to please stop setting off the smoke alarm while I’m in the shower, along with leaving the dinnerware alone?

Mark in TTown, Hope you like Luddie strips because my cat could be Ludwig.
Charlotte in NH on 11 Feb 2013 at 10:12 pm #

Oh, I see, Mindy from Indy. I hadn’t thought of that!
Ghost Rider 6 on 11 Feb 2013 at 10:45 pm #

Sorry, Lady Mindy, but Angus is a poltergeist, and a pretty incorrigible one at that. I had a talk with him, but he refuses to stop pranking you. He’s been with you for quite a while, and since poltergeists associate with a person rather than a location, moving won’t help. And frankly, judging by all the ghostly cackling laughter when he talked about the smoke alarm trick, I think he particularly likes to watch you jump out of the shower.
Meryl A on 12 Feb 2013 at 12:49 am #

Husband can not understand why I am excited to see the mail. I always have the feeling like “Wells Fargo Wagon” in the Music Man. One never knows what will come.

On the serious side, I don’t order items unless it is really necessary, unless they will deliver by USPS. When something comes by mail they put it in the box in front of the house (or more likely I will give them our PO Box number and have it sent there). When something is ordered and shipped by UPS or FedEx (or the other assorted delivery services) it is left on our (uncovered) front steps, no matter the weather or if it is the day before a holiday week and we might be away. We live across the street from a bus stop and anything left is in full view of everyone on the street and at the bus stop. One delivery company could not find us after we gave them directions (and we live on a main road) as they only look for business signs, not addresses. Another delivery company would drive through our circular drive and toss the packages out the window onto the steps. Fedex left a package that had a full letter size sheet on it, requiring a signature, without getting same. Fed Ex and UPS do not even bother to ring our door bell when they leave packages. They are both also overpriced. A client asked me to ship to them by Fed Ex and they would pay the delivery charges. I wanted to include a bill in the package. The rate on their website said it was not definite, so I telephoned, they gave a different rate. I called back to double check and was given a third rate! The package was sent USPS Express and arrived the same next day for half the price and I knew what it was to bill them. Our little craft business sells on Etsy and only ships by USPS. In all 6 or so years in business we only had trouble one Christmas season a few years ago with 2 or 3 packages. Not sure why anyone prefers the other companies!!
Lost in A**2 on 12 Feb 2013 at 1:16 am #

EMb, I can’t help but feel that you read more into my comment than was there. But still, I both like and appreciate your comments on theophanies.

Lady Mindy, I had read Charlotte’s comment metaphorically.
Jerry in Fl on 12 Feb 2013 at 2:38 am #

Mindy in Indy, I’m glad that you fixed the gutter. The noise can get irksome after awhile. In the age before oil wells could a shallow pool of crude burn like the coal mines catch on fire? I have no idea but I’m the most anything is possible guy that you could meet. The thing with the Pope is a coincidence because I just finished a book on the life of Pope Pius XII. I’m not Catholic of course but I read about religions a lot.
Debbe59 on 12 Feb 2013 at 4:27 am #

Good morning to all

Yesterday was a bad day…my co-worker was not in a good mood…she gave me a piece of her mind at the end of the day…today, I will give her a peace of my mind amen

GR…thanks for that tidbit of info on True Grit…my favorite movie of the Duke, and I really liked him in the ‘Shootist” too.

gotta go

ya’ll have a blessed day and hugs to Mindy
Mindy on 12 Feb 2013 at 5:09 am #

Hugs right back, Debbe!
JDS on 12 Feb 2013 at 9:23 am #

Mark in TTown – Victory At Sea – The best 11 hours and 30 minutes ever shown on television. Too bad that young Americans today have no interest in viewing it. My wife’s cousin, Francis A, Cychosz is still on board the USS Arizona.

Feb 6th 2013 08:20 am Financial Insecurity

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